The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-05-18
PLEA FOR TIE OTHER SIDE TO YIELD
EVERYTHING.

! EVERYTHING.
fear my brethren of the la!ty do not fully
enter into the position of the BiSh0p and OF q
majority of the clergy to the diocese. why
should We be arraycd on opposite side" Have
we not suffered together? When you, tho
| laity, were in the field, were not We, tho
clergy, in the hospitals ami in evacuated
towns, and SonIc OF us refused projections?
Have not the clergy uS much at stake as the
| laity? And are they not equally, with my
brethren of the laity suIicitnus for the future
welfare Of the diocese? Or Is IT. that you dis
trust our Intelligence in these matters, and
think that because we bear no part in politi
cal and party conventions, that therefore, as
citizens, we must necessarily be short-siSht
ed? Let me, then, claim your indulgence
only few moments longer in consideration
OF our painful divergence. Come to the
Bishops side for a moment and sec If you
cannot see what he sees. But If this is toe
much t. expect, that one who Is free from the
scare of all the churches" should see what
may see enough to make you grant that from
his standpoint hc could do no less than what
he has done.
THE CHURCH NOT Y. NJ. c. A-BUT A
NEGRO Is AS GOOD AS a WHITE MAN.
The Bishop then believes this Church to be
not social organization like the Young
Mems Christian Association. but 6ranch
of Christ. The Church Of Christ, like the
gospel of Christ. is for all people and for all
sorts and conditions of men," When com
mssioned to 60 10 ms WORK al enG m me oi an, m1i
not to any one class, but TO all classes who
desired part in his ministrations. If his
EpiScopate was to teach the rich only, or the
refined only, or the whites only. then he
would wish to lay IL down, being in his
esteem an Episcopatc which Jagged too fal
behind the footsteps of his Lord. He must
address himself, therefore. If true to duty, tc
the colorcd people of the diocese rs we'll rs tc
the whites. But to do this effectively there
must be Il colorcd ministry. But If colored
ministry, then a colored ministry on inc
same plane eccesiastically with the White
ministry. For if ordination means anything
it means that its gifts go to men without re
gard to race or color. Here then begins the
difficulty in our diocese, and by the way, We
wrestling with this difficulty. When tho
colorcd clergyman becomes canonically con-
nected with this diocese he equally with the
white clergyman becomes thereby under the
pro visions of the constitution {Vld. Article
ilI) ipso yfacto a member of the Diocesan Con
vcntiOn. What shall be the orient OF the priv
ileges of his membership will depend upon
two further considerations To be a rotc III
convention he must have been actually ano
canonically resident ini the diocese "for the
space Of twelve calendar months next before
convention, and, moreover, he must have dis
charged his duties as q rector or missionary
for the same period of time-twelve calendar
months next before convention. When these
conditions have been fulfilled then, In my
judgments, which nothing l have seen OF
heard has shaken for q moment, the clergy
man in question is here under the constitu
tion, which was adopted finally and unani
mously in Columbia in 1876. and In full view
of this question. But will not argue the
point further. What have said is simply tc
show that while the present constitution Is
the constitution, as conscientious lnterpre
ter of the same can do no otherwise than
have done. II you wish the Interpretation
changed you must change the constitution
and / have made suggestion to this end
which you unanimously approved of three
speak with entire frankncsS, but Mt the same
time in great consideration of my brethren o.
the laity, when l say that 1T is my belief that
other Southern dioccses in this question
You are alone in your position. This, indeed
matters not if you are right, but if you are
wrong it matters gr Eat deal that you should
array the diocese contra nlundum.